VERGENNES - Four people received medical care Friday after an explosion at UTC Aerospace Systems.

Ron Hallman, a spokesman for Porter Medical Center in Middlebury, said the hospital received four patients from the incident.

One patient was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for treatment of burns, Hallman said. As of late Friday afternoon, Hallman said one patient had been discharged and two were being evaluated.

Matthew Fraley, deputy chief of the Vergennes Fire Department, described the incident as a "small explosion" and said all injuries were minor.

All employees were evacuated from the facility.

Buy Photo

An ambulance stages at UTC Aerospace in Vergennes after transporting a patient to Porter Hospital following an explosion that injured at least three people on Friday, December 8, 2017. (Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

Al Killeffer, a spokesman for UTC Aerospace, based in Charlotte, N.C., said the company was working to assess the situation.

"At this time we can confirm there was an explosion," Killeffer said in a statement early Friday afternoon. "All employees were evacuated.

"Our thoughts are with those affected and we are working with emergency responders to ensure that they receive the appropriate care and relief," Killeffer continued. "We'll continue to keep you updated as we learn more."

Buy Photo

Fire fighters stage at the back on a manufacturgin area at UTC Aerospace in Vergennes near where an explosion occurred, injuring at least three people on Friday, December 8, 2017. (Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

Fraley, the deputy fire chief, said fire departments from Vergennes, Addison and Ferrisburgh responded to the scene, as well as rescue squads from Vergennes and Charlotte.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Fraley told reporters his team was waiting for smoke to clear so that an investigation could begin.

Friday evening, Detective Sergeant Todd Ambroz of the Vermont State Police's fire investigation unit said the explosion is not considered suspicious.

Buy Photo

An explosion injured three people at UTC Aerospace in Vergennes on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. (Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

Free Press Photographer Ryan Mercer contributed reporting.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.
Do you have a breaking news tip? Call us at 802-660-6500 or send us a post on Facebook or Twitter using #BFPTips.